Richard laughed. “She’s nothin’ but a sass attack.”
Rhys shook his head. “Girls.”
Richard curled up his nose in disgust, and Rhys almost did the same, except Emily was his best friend, too, and his mama was his favorite person in the world, and he was figurin’ he liked girls just right and fine so he’d better treat ’em with respect like his daddy told him he was supposed to do.
Mrs. Ramsey appeared in the doorway to the kitchen, drying her hands on a towel. “You need to get washed up, Richard, and help your sister set the table. And you better run on home, Rhys…your mama is going to be wondering what you’ve gotten up to.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he told her before he waved at Richard. “See ya tomorrow.”
“Later, Rhys’ Pieces.”
“Bye, Richie-Poo-Poo.”
Cracking up, he hustled out the front door and across the deck, and by the time he was taking the five wooden steps down to the gravel to head in the direction of his house that was on the next property over, he could see the plume of dust rising up behind his daddy’s truck that bounced up the one-lane dirt road.
Rhys took off, racing something fierce up the drive. Without slowing, he ducked down and slipped between the planks of the wooden fence that separated their properties.
His daddy came to a rumbling stop in front of their house, and Rhys pushed his legs as fast as they could go.
His mouth stretched in a wide grin and excitement bumbled in his stomach.
This was his favorite part of the day.
“Dad! Dad! You’re home!”
His daddy cranked open the door and stepped out, his own grin sliding over his sun-weathered face. His work clothes were worn and covered in dirt, his hands stained with years of oil and grease when he swept Rhys right off his feet.
“There’s my rough and tumble.” He ruffled a hand through Rhys’ hair. “Let’s see those muscles.”
Rhys lifted both his arms out to the sides and curled his fists, showing off his biceps. His dad gave ’em a squeeze. “Strong as a horse, my boy.”
“Yep! You won’t even be able to hold me soon I’m getting so big.”
So maybe he was probably already a little bit big. At least that’s what his mama would giggle and say, but Rhys didn’t care.
“Not a chance of that. You’re never gonna get so big that your daddy can’t pick you up and squeeze ya.”
“Even when I’m twenty-five?”
His daddy chuckled. “Okay, fine. You’ll probably be carrying me around by then…takin’ care of me and your mama.”
Pride puffed out Rhys’ chest at the thought. “I’ll always take care of you.”
“That’s because my son is the best son around.”
Rhys nodded like crazy, and his daddy ducked back into his truck and grabbed the silver lunch box he took to work every mornin’.
His daddy didn’t even set him down, and instead he carried him up the two steps to the front of their house. He opened the door, shouting when he did, “Where’s my woman?”
A giggle floated from off toward the kitchen where Rhys’ mama was at the stove cooking something in a big pot that made Rhys’ mouth water.
Their house was kinda smaller than Richard’s, no steps or stairs, and there was a big room in the middle with the TV and couch and the kitchen on the other side.
His mama arched a brow at his daddy. “Your woman, huh?”
His daddy waltzed into the kitchen, setting Rhys on his feet before he whisked up behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist. He hugged her back to his chest.
“Mmmhmm.” He hummed into her hair. “My woman.”
Rhys’ cheeks always got all red and hot when his mom and dad got like this, which was pretty much all the time.
“Missed you,” his daddy rumbled.
His mama got all gooey and soft. “I missed you, too. But you stink. Go get yourself cleaned up before we eat.”
“Bossy. I know who holds the reins around here.”
“Well, someone around here’s gotta make sure my wild boys behave.”
“I thought you liked it when I misbehaved?” He kissed the back of her neck.
“I got news, Dad, Ma hates it when we misbehave. Don’t know what you’re talkin’ about. Think I already spent half of my whole life in time-out.”
He stretched his arms out to the sides.
His daddy chuckled, his blue eyes twinkling, and Rhys felt like his heart was gonna bust right out of his chest.
Love, love, love.
His mama said this house was built on it.
That it was the foundation of a family.
And without it, everything would collapse.
His daddy moved toward Rhys and brushed his fingers through his hair. “You’re a good boy, Rhys. A good, good boy.”
Five
Maggie
I hovered at the edge of the kitchen, trying to keep myself together and not do something foolish like chase him out the door. Rhys had slipped out a second before without another soul noticing, and it felt almost impossible to remain standing beneath the stunning shockwave of turmoil that had pierced the air.